Submerged combustion glass manufacturing system and method

ABSTRACT

Submerged combustion glass manufacturing systems include a melter having a floor, a roof, a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, and an exhaust passage through the roof. One or more submerged combustion burners are mounted in the floor and/or wall structure discharging combustion products under a level of material being melted in the melter and create turbulent conditions in the material. The melter exhausts through an exhaust structure connecting the exhaust passage with an exhaust stack. The exhaust structure includes a barrier defining an exhaust chamber having an interior surface, the exhaust chamber having a cross-sectional area greater than that of the exhaust stack but less than the melter. The barrier maintains temperature and pressure in the exhaust structure at values sufficient to substantially prevent condensation of exhaust material on the interior surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 14/208,029 filed Mar.13, 2014, which is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 13/268,098 filed Oct. 7,2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,740 issued Apr. 29, 2014, which is relatedto Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,769,992 issued Jul. 8, 2014, U.S. Pat.No. 8,875,544 issued Nov. 4, 2014, U.S. Pat. No. 8,973,400 issued Mar.10, 2015, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,650,914 issued Feb. 18, 2014, all of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of submergedcombustion glass melters and methods of use.

Background Art

Submerged combustion melters are known for producing molten glass.Submerged combustion melters and their operation may cause exhaustpressure and exhaust volume fluctuations due to large bubbles of gasfrom submerged combustion burners, which may lead to batch (startingmaterial) carryover and/or molten glass carryover into the melterexhaust. Carryover may lead to reduced exhaust flow or even in somecircumstances plugging of the exhaust ducts.

It would be an advance in the submerged combustion glass melting art todevelop melters and methods of using them that reduce or overcome one ormore of these problems.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, submerged combustion meltersand methods of use are described that may allow reduction of melterpressure fluctuations and/or carryover.

A first aspect of the disclosure is a submerged combustion glassmanufacturing system comprising:

a melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting thefloor and roof, and an exhaust passage through the roof;

one or more submerged combustion burners mounted in the floor and/orwall structure, the submerged combustion burners configured to dischargecombustion products under a level of material being melted in the melterand create turbulent conditions in substantially all of the material;and

an exhaust structure fluidly connecting the exhaust passage with anexhaust stack, the exhaust structure comprising a barrier preventingexhaust material from contacting the atmosphere, the barrier defining anexhaust chamber having an interior surface, the exhaust chamber having across-sectional area greater than that of the exhaust stack but lessthan the melter, the barrier configured to maintain temperature andpressure in the exhaust structure at values sufficient to substantiallyprevent condensation of exhaust material on the interior surface.

A second aspect of the disclosure is a submerged combustion glassmanufacturing system comprising:

a melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting thefloor and roof, a feed inlet in a feed end, a molten glass outlet in anexit end, and an exhaust passage through the roof positionedsubstantially centrally between the feed and exit ends;

one or more submerged combustion burners mounted in the floor and/orwall structure, the submerged combustion burners configured to dischargecombustion products under a level of material being melted in the melterand create turbulent conditions in substantially all of the material;and

an exhaust structure fluidly connecting the exhaust passage with anexhaust stack, the exhaust structure comprising:

-   -   a barrier preventing exhaust material from contacting the        atmosphere, the barrier defining an exhaust chamber having an        interior surface, the exhaust chamber having a cross-sectional        area greater than that of the exhaust stack but less than the        melter, the barrier configured to maintain temperature and        pressure in the exhaust structure at values sufficient to        substantially prevent condensation of exhaust material on the        interior surface;    -   a liquid-cooled transition structure fluidly connecting the        exhaust passage and the exhaust structure; and    -   an air inspirator fluidly connecting the barrier and the exhaust        stack.

A third aspect of the disclosure is a method of manufacturing glasscomprising:

melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter, themelter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting thefloor and roof, and an exhaust passage through the roof;

combusting a fuel in one or more submerged combustion burners mounted inthe floor and/or wall structure, the submerged combustion burnersdischarging combustion products under a level of the glass-formingmaterial being melted in the melter and creating turbulent conditions insubstantially all of the material; and

exhausting exhaust material from the melter through an exhaust structurefluidly connecting the exhaust passage with an exhaust stack, theexhaust structure comprising a barrier preventing the exhaust materialfrom contacting the atmosphere, the barrier defining an exhaust chamberhaving an interior surface, the barrier configured to maintaintemperature and pressure in the exhaust structure at values sufficientto substantially prevent the exhaust material from condensing on theinterior surface.

A fourth aspect of the disclosure is a method of manufacturing glasscomprising:

melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter, themelter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting thefloor and roof, and an exhaust passage through the roof;

combusting a fuel in one or more submerged combustion burners mounted inthe floor and/or wall structure, the submerged combustion burnersdischarging combustion products under a level of the glass-formingmaterial being melted in the melter and creating turbulent conditions insubstantially all of the material; and

exhausting exhaust material from the melter through an exhaust structurefluidly connecting the exhaust passage with an exhaust stack, whereinthe exhaust passage is substantially centrally located between a feedend and an exit end of the melter, and the exhausting of the exhaustmaterial through the exhaust structure comprises exhausting the exhaustmaterial substantially centrally between the feed end and the exit endof the melter, wherein the exhaust structure comprises:

-   -   a barrier preventing the exhaust material from contacting the        atmosphere, the barrier defining an exhaust chamber having an        interior surface, the barrier configured to maintain temperature        and pressure in the exhaust structure at values sufficient to        substantially prevent the exhaust material from condensing on        the interior surface;    -   a liquid-cooled transition structure fluidly connecting the        exhaust passage and the exhaust structure; and

an air inspirator fluidly connecting the barrier and the exhaust stack.

Systems and methods of the disclosure will become more apparent uponreview of the brief description of the drawings, the detaileddescription of the disclosure, and the claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The manner in which the objectives of the disclosure and other desirablecharacteristics can be obtained is explained in the followingdescription and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side-elevation view, partially in cross-section,of a prior art submerged combustion melter and system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side-elevation view of a submerged combustionmelter and system embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic end elevation view, partially in cross-section, ofthe submerged combustion melter and system embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 4A are schematic perspective views of two other melter andsystem embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the exhauststructure of the melter and system embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 5;and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are logic diagrams of two methods in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

It is to be noted, however, that FIGS. 1-6 of the appended drawings maynot be to scale and illustrate only typical embodiments of thisdisclosure, and are therefore not to be considered limiting of itsscope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effectiveembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to providean understanding of the disclosed methods and systems for carrying outthe methods. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat the methods and systems may be practiced without these details andthat numerous variations or modifications from the specificallydescribed embodiments may be possible and are deemed within the claimsor claimable subject matter in this or subsequent patents. All UnitedStates (U.S.) published patent applications and U.S. Patents referencedherein are hereby explicitly incorporated herein by reference. In theevent definitions of terms in the referenced patents and applicationsconflict with how those terms are defined in the present application,the definitions for those terms that are provided in the presentapplication shall be deemed controlling.

As explained briefly in the Background, current production of glassproducts using submerged combustion may utilize one or more conventionalexhaust ports and such melters may suffer exhaust port plugging and/orreduced flow of exhaust, which may result in reduced or lost production,increased carryover of batch or cullet, and increased ejection of moltenglass from the burners to the exhaust due to pulsation of combustiongases emanating from the burners. Such melters also frequently require asump to catch debris falling off of the inside surfaces of the exhaustport.

Applicants have discovered that by eliminating the customary exhaustport or ports, substantially opening the top of the melter and creatinga large volume exhaust area with a low exit flow velocity, prior to theexhaust gases passing to an exhaust duct system and an abatement systemcommonly used, and optionally locating the exhaust area properly betweenthe feed inlet and molten glass discharge, carryover and ejection ofmolten glass may be drastically reduced, and in certain embodiments asump may not be necessary, reducing capital and operating costs.

Various terms are used throughout this disclosure. “Submerged” as usedherein means that combustion gases emanate from burners under the levelof the molten glass; the burners may be floor-mounted, wall-mounted, orin melter embodiments comprising more than one submerged combustionburner, any combination thereof (for example, two floor mounted burnersand one wall mounted burner).

As used herein the terms “combustion gases”, “combustion products” and“combustion flames” may be used interchangeably and mean substantiallygaseous mixtures of any excess oxidant or fuel, oxides of carbon (suchas carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide), oxides of nitrogen, oxides ofsulfur, and water. Combustion products may include liquids and solids,for example soot and unburned liquid fuels. “Exhaust material” includesall materials exiting the melter through an exhaust structure, andincludes combustion gases, batch and/or cullet carryover, ejected moltenglass, inspirated air, and the like. The phrase “the barrier configuredto maintain temperature and pressure in the exhaust structure at valuessufficient to substantially prevent condensation of exhaust material onthe interior surface” essentially means determining the species in theexhaust material most likely to condense and maintaining the temperatureand pressure at levels that would substantially prevent that speciesfrom condensing. For example, if the species most likely to condensewould condense at 1500° F. (815° C.) or lower temperature and/orpressure less than 1 atmosphere, then the temperature of the interiorsurface of the barrier would be maintained at temperature slightlyhigher than 1500° F. (for example 1520° C. (826° C.), or 1530° F. (832°C.), or higher) and pressure slightly above 1 atmosphere (for example,1.1 atmosphere, 1.15 atmosphere, or higher).

The term “fuel”, according to this disclosure, means a combustiblecomposition comprising a major portion of, for example, methane, naturalgas, liquefied natural gas, propane, atomized oil or the like (either ingaseous or liquid form). Fuels useful in the disclosure may compriseminor amounts of non-fuels therein, including oxidants, for purposessuch as premixing the fuel with the oxidant, or atomizing liquid fuels.As used herein the term “fuel” includes gaseous fuels, liquid fuels,flowable solids, such as powdered carbon or particulate material, wastematerials, slurries, and mixtures or other combinations thereof. Whenthe fuel comprises gaseous fuel, the gaseous fuel may be selected fromthe group consisting of methane, natural gas, liquefied natural gas,propane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam-reformed natural gas, atomizedoil or mixtures thereof.

“Oxidant” means air, or compositions comprising the same molarconcentration of oxygen as air, while the term “oxygen” means a gas withan oxygen molar concentration of at least 50%. Such oxidants includeoxygen-enriched air containing at least 50% vol., oxygen such as“industrially” pure oxygen (99.5%) produced by a cryogenic airseparation plant or non-pure oxygen produced by an adsorption process ormembrane permeation process (about 90% vol. oxygen or more). In allembodiments of the disclosure the sources of oxidant and fuel may be oneor more conduits, pipelines, storage facility, cylinders, or, inembodiments where the oxidant is air, ambient air. Oxygen-enrichedoxidants may be supplied from a pipeline, cylinder, storage facility,cryogenic air separation unit, membrane permeation separator, oradsorption unit such as a vacuum swing adsorption unit.

Submerged combustion melters useful in methods and systems of thepresent disclosure may be comprised of metal, ceramic, ceramic-linedmetal, or combination thereof. Suitable metals include stainless steels,for example, but not limited to, 306 and 316 steel, as well as titaniumalloys, aluminum alloys, carbon steel, and the like.

One aspect of the disclosure is a submerged combustion glassmanufacturing system comprising a melter comprising a floor, a roof, anda wall structure connecting the floor and roof, and an exhaust passagethrough the roof; one or more submerged combustion burners mounted inthe floor and/or wall structure, the submerged combustion burnersconfigured to discharge combustion products under a level of materialbeing melted in the melter and create turbulent conditions insubstantially all of the material; and an exhaust structure fluidlyconnecting the exhaust passage with an exhaust stack, the exhauststructure comprising a barrier preventing exhaust material fromcontacting the atmosphere, the barrier defining an exhaust chamberhaving an interior surface, the exhaust chamber having a cross-sectionalarea greater than that of the exhaust stack but less than the melter,the barrier configured to maintain temperature and pressure in theexhaust structure at values sufficient to substantially preventcondensation of exhaust material on the interior surface. Certainsubmerged combustion glass manufacturing systems may comprise more thanone exhaust passage through the roof, and more than one exhauststructure as described herein.

Certain systems of the present disclosure may comprise one or more feedinlets in a feed end of the wall structure, one or more molten glassoutlets in an exit end of the wall structure, wherein the exhaustpassage through the roof is positioned substantially centrally betweenthe feed and exit ends.

In certain systems of the present disclosure the exhaust passage andexhaust chamber may have a cross-sectional area at least large enough toallow non-turbulent flow of exhaust gases in the exhaust materialflowing through the passage and chamber.

In certain systems and methods the submerged combustion burners may beconfigured to discharge combustion products primarily non-laterallyunder the level of material being melted in the melter. In certainexemplary system and method embodiments the submerged combustion burnersmay be configured to discharge combustion products primarily verticallyunder the level of material being melted in the melter.

In certain systems the wall structure may comprise a feed end wall, anexit end wall, and two side walls, with each side wall connected to boththe feed end wall and the exit end wall.

In certain systems of this disclosure the barrier of the exhauststructure may be constructed of materials selected from the groupconsisting of refractory, metal, and combinations thereof, with theproviso that if metal, the service temperature of the metal is higherthan the temperature of the exhaust materials. Examples of suitablemetals include, but are not limited to, carbon steel, stainless steelsof various grades, Inconel, and the like.

Certain systems embodiments may comprise a fluid-cooled transitionstructure fluidly connecting the exhaust passage and the exhauststructure. In certain systems the fluid may be a liquid selected fromthe group consisting of water, organic liquids, inorganic liquids, andcombinations thereof.

Certain systems may comprise an air inspirator fluidly connecting thebarrier and the exhaust stack. In certain systems the air inspirator maycomprise one or more adjustable panels. In certain embodiments the airinspirator may comprise a hood or hoods that may be raised or lowered,for example using rails, guides, jack-screws or other sub-system.Movement may be accomplished using manual or automatic control, and mayuse electronic, pneumatic, or hydraulic actuation.

In certain systems the barrier of the exhaust structure may have across-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular,round, oval, trapezoidal, triangular, U-shaped, quadrangular, hexagonal,octagonal, parabolic. The cross-sectional shape of the barrier may bethe same or different than the cross-sectional shape of the melter.

In certain system embodiments the barrier of the exhaust structure maycomprise a refractory lined metal layer wherein the refractory comprisesthe interior surface of the barrier, the metal layer having air-cooledsurfaces that may also function as mechanical supports. The air-cooledsurfaces may be fins, flow-through boxes, and the like, and may havechannels, baffles, and other surfaces to increase or decrease heattransfer. In certain system embodiments the metal layer may be Inconel,and the air-cooled surfaces may be steel. The air-cooled surfaces orstructures may be integral with the metal layer, or may be removablyattached separate pieces, such as by bolted flange connections, welding,riveting, and similar attachment mechanisms.

Another aspect of this disclosure are methods comprising meltingglass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter, the meltercomprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floorand roof, and an exhaust passage through the roof; combusting a fuel inone or more submerged combustion burners mounted in the floor and/orwall structure, the submerged combustion burners discharging combustionproducts under a level of the glass-forming material being melted in themelter and creating turbulent conditions in substantially all of thematerial; and exhausting exhaust material from the melter through anexhaust structure fluidly connecting the exhaust passage with an exhauststack, the exhaust structure comprising a barrier preventing the exhaustmaterial from contacting the atmosphere, the barrier defining an exhaustchamber having an interior surface, the barrier configured to maintaintemperature and pressure in the exhaust structure at values sufficientto substantially prevent the exhaust material from condensing on theinterior surface.

In certain methods the exhaust passage may be substantially centrallylocated between a feed end and an exit end of the melter, and theexhausting of the exhaust material through the exhaust structurecomprises exhausting the exhaust material substantially centrallybetween the feed end and the exit end of the melter.

Certain method embodiments may comprise cooling the exhaust materialprior to the exhaust chamber by flowing the exhaust material through aliquid-cooled transition structure fluidly connecting the exhaustpassage and the barrier.

Certain method embodiments may comprise inspiring air into the exhaustmaterial through an air inspirator fluidly connecting the barrier andthe exhaust stack. Certain methods may comprise adjusting one or morepanels of the air inspirator, or moving the air inspirator up or down tolet more or less air into the stack.

In certain systems and methods at least some heat used for the meltingmay come from heat from combustion of at least some of the binder ofglass mat and/or roving fed to the melter. In certain systems andmethods the submerged combustion melter may be operated at a pressureless than atmospheric pressure. These systems and methods may ensurethat any combustion products generated during melting remain in thesystem and do not escape through the feed inlet. These features are morefully descried in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,650,914 issued Feb. 18,2014.

Certain system and method embodiments of this disclosure may includesubmerged combustion melters comprising fluid-cooled panels, such asdescribed in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,769,992 issued Jul. 8, 2014.

In certain system and method embodiments, the submerged combustionmelter may include one or more submerged combustion burners comprisingone or more combustion burners such as described in Applicant's U.S.Pat. No. 8,875,544 issued Nov. 4, 2014.

Certain system and method embodiments of this disclosure may becontrolled by one or more controllers. For example, burner combustion(flame) temperature may be controlled by monitoring one or moreparameters selected from velocity of the fuel, velocity of the primaryoxidant, mass and/or volume flow rate of the fuel, mass and/or volumeflow rate of the primary oxidant, energy content of the fuel,temperature of the fuel as it enters the burner, temperature of theprimary oxidant as it enters the burner, temperature of the effluent,pressure of the primary oxidant entering the burner, humidity of theoxidant, burner geometry, combustion ratio, and combinations thereof.Certain systems and processes of this disclosure may also measure and/ormonitor feed rate of batch or other feed materials, such as glass mat orwound roving, mass of glass mat or wound roving per unit length, web orroving linear speed, and combinations thereof, and use thesemeasurements for control purposes. Exemplary systems and methods of thedisclosure may comprise a combustion controller which receives one ormore input parameters selected from velocity of the fuel, velocity ofthe primary oxidant, mass and/or volume flow rate of the fuel, massand/or volume flow rate of the primary oxidant, energy content of thefuel, temperature of the fuel as it enters the burner, temperature ofthe primary oxidant as it enters the burner, pressure of the oxidantentering the burner, humidity of the oxidant, burner geometry, oxidationratio, temperature of the effluent and combinations thereof, and employsa control algorithm to control combustion temperature based on one ormore of these input parameters.

Certain system and method embodiments may comprise using vibrationand/or oscillation of the submerged combustion melter to predict meltviscosity and/or other properties of the initial melt emanating from themelter, as disclosed in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,973,400 issued Mar.10, 2015.

Yet other systems and methods may employ a lance above the melt if themelt is foamy in the submerged combustion melter, as described inApplicant's U.S. Pat. No. 9,021,838 issued May 5, 2015.

Referring now to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 is a side-elevation view,partially in cross-section, of a prior art submerged combustion meltersystem and method embodiment 1, including a glass tank furnace or melter10 positioned on a plant floor or other surface 2, including two burners4 and 6. Melter 10 includes sidewalls 8 (an inlet end wall 8A and anoutlet end wall 8B are illustrated), a floor 12, a roof 14, a mayinclude a sump 15 for handling material that falls off the insidesurfaces of an exhaust chute 16. Prior art melter and system embodiment1 includes a molten glass melt exit 18. A glass-forming material feedbin 20 may be attached to melter sidewall 8 via a conduit 22, and FIG. 1illustrates solid batch and/or cullet 23 entering melter 10, with apartially molten level of materials 24 indicated. Melt level 24 may besensed by a level sensor 52. Melt 26 in melter 10 may be generally in aturbulent condition as indicated by flow-indicating arrows in melt 26,caused by combustion products 28 from burners 4, 6, although the priorart also includes melters having non-turbulent layers, such as whenburners are positioned in the sidewalls, and the combustion productsdischarge laterally. Sidewalls 8, floor 12, and roof 14 are typicallycomposed of ceramic or other refractory material, while exhaust chute 16typically is refractory-lined metal, and leads to a metal duct systemand baghouse for handling solid particulates that may escape melter 10.Prior art system 1 may include various fuel and oxidant flow meters,such as oxidant flow meters 38 and 44, and fuel flow meters 40, 42, and46. Melt typically discharges into a forehearth 58. A melt temperaturesensor 54 and a melt flow meter 56 may be included in forehearth 58, aswell as burner and melter control systems (not illustrated).

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side elevation and end elevation views, respectively,partially in cross-section, of a system embodiment 100 in accordancewith the present disclosure, including a glass tank furnace or melter110 positioned on a plant floor or other surface 102, including fourburners 104A, 104B, 106A, and 106B (burner 106A is hidden in theseviews), one or more of which may be of the adjustable burner typedescribed in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,875,544 issued Nov. 4, 2014,comprising first and second conduits configured to form a primaryannulus between the external surface of the first conduit and theinternal surface of the second conduit, and an adjustable structurecomprising a generally cylindrical central hub adjustable axially inrelation to and removably attached to the first end of the firstconduit, the hub defining a central passage and one or more non-centralthrough passages. More than or less than two burners may be used, aswell as burners of other designs, as long as one submerged burner ispresent. Melter 110 includes an inlet end wall 108A, an outlet end wall108B, side walls 109A and 109B, a floor 112, a roof 114, an exhaustchute 116, and a glass melt exit 118. A glass-forming material feed bin120 may be attached to melter inlet wall 108A. One or more burners maybe in one or more sidewalls 108, as long as the flame and/or products ofcombustion emanate below the surface of the melt. As in prior art system1 illustrated in FIG. 1, end walls 108A and B, side walls 109A and 109B,floor 112, and roof 114 are typically composed of ceramic or otherrefractory material. Other melter designs, having other feedarrangements, burner arrangements, and wall designs, such as disclosedin Applicant's patents are considered within the present disclosure.

In accordance with the present disclosure, system 100 illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3 further comprises an exhaust passage 122 in roof 114fluidly connecting melter 110 and an exhaust structure 130. Exhauststructure 130 comprises, in embodiment 100, a refractory lining 124having an interior surface 125 defining an exhaust chamber 123, and anInconel or other metal structure 126 (determined by service temperature)such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and the like, with metalthickness generally increasing as temperature increases to affordgreater strength. Embodiment 100 also includes heat transfer surfaces128, which may be flow-through air panels, where air flows verticallyupward, co-currently to flow of exhaust gases. A lower transitionconnector 134 is a liquid cooled transition that fluidly connectsexhaust passage 122 with exhaust chamber 123. The cooling liquid may beany heat transfer liquid, although chilled water may be the lowest costalternative. An air inspirator 131 includes four adjustable panels 132,which may be hinged panels, for adjusting the amount of air inspiratedinto stack 116. Inspirator 131 includes in this embodiment a metaltransition piece 136 that transitions exhaust structure 130 to theconventional stack 116. Support legs 138 and a forehearth 158 are alsoincluded in embodiment 100.

FIGS. 2 and 3 also depict two axis, A1 and A2. Axis A1 illustrates thecenter line of exhaust chamber 123 between end walls of exhauststructure 130, and generally indicates that chamber 123 and exhaustpassage 122 are substantially centrally located with respect to melterinlet wall 108A and molten glass outlet wall 108B. Axis A2 illustratesthe center line of exhaust chamber 123 between side walls of exhauststructure 130, and generally indicates that chamber 123 and exhaustpassage 122 are substantially centrally located with respect to sidewalls 109A and 109B of melter 110.

As used herein, “substantially centrally” means that there may be somedeviation from exact center, perhaps 5 percent, or 10 percent or 25percent either way.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of another melter and systemembodiment 200 of the present disclosure. Melter and system 200 aremounted on a plant floor 202 or other surface. Submerged combustionburners are not viewable in this embodiment, but are inserted throughthe floor 212 as in embodiment 100. Melter 210 includes inlet and outletend walls 208A and 208B, respectively, side walls 209A and 209B, and aroof 214. Melter 210 has a trapezoidal shape in embodiment 200, and thusincludes a pair of angled side walls 244A, 244B (only 244B beingvisible), as well as a downwardly sloping end panel 242. Melter 210actually has a double trapezoidal shape, with the inlet end having thelonger side 215 of a first trapezoid mating with the longer side of asecond trapezoid having a second end 217, shown by the dashed line inFIG. 4. Melter 210 includes a feed inlet 239, and a molten glass outletnear a bottom of end wall 208B that is not viewable in FIG. 4.

An exhaust structure in embodiment 200 is defined by a front coolingpanel 240A, back wall cooling panel 240B (not shown) and side wallcooling panels 228A and 228B (side wall cooling panel 228A not viewablein FIG. 4). An air inspirator is provided comprising in this embodimenttwo adjustable side panels 232A and 232B, an adjustable front panel234A, and an adjustable back panel 234B. Adjustable panels 232 and 234may be adjusted using hinges, hydraulic or pneumatic pistons, motors, orany other mechanism. A metal transition piece or hood 236 is provided,fluidly connecting inspirator panels 232, 234 to a connector 216 thatconnects to a conventional metal stack (not illustrated). In analternative embodiment 300, illustrated schematically in FIG. 7,inspirator panels 232 and 234 are not required. Instead, hood 236 ismovable up and down to adjust air inspiration into hood 236. Hood 236may be configured to move up and down in a variety of ways, for exampleby adding guides, rails, wheels, jack screws, one or more motors, andthe like to the hood. In embodiment 300 of FIG. 7, three guides 250,251, and 252 of a set of four corner guides are illustrated, partiallyin phantom. Hood 236 may be moved up or down using guide wires 260, 261,262, and 263, for example, using lifting eyes 270, 271, 272, and 274(the latter not viewable in FIG. 7).

FIG. 5 is a more detailed schematic perspective view of a portion of theexhaust structure of the melter and system embodiment of FIG. 4,illustrating in more detail cooling panels 228B and 240B, each havingthree vertical flow-though sections separated by partitions 228C, 228D,240C, and 240D. Cooling panels 228 and 240 have air inlets generallynoted at 246 and air outlets generally noted at 248. Also viewable inFIG. 5 is metal panel 226 (Inconel in embodiment 200), while refractorylining 224 is shown schematically in the plan view of FIG. 6 of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 5.

Melter and system embodiments 100 and 200, as well as other melters,systems, and methods in accordance with the present disclosure, mayprocess a full range of glass compositions and batch materials includingcommercial borosilicate and soda-lime glasses, as well as compositionsfor commercial mineral and stone wools. The melter dimensions and thenumber of submerged combustion burners may vary. The typical bubble(void) diameter in melt samples may be about 0.1 mm, but with time attemperatures, as is provided by a refractory lined channel or forehearthof varying length and depth, the small bubbles may coalesce and formlarger voids that rise in the flowing molten glass and may be removedfrom the bulk glass. With enough time and temperature, the glass becomes“fined” to the state of a solid glass without voids. If foamed glass isdesired, insulating foam glass depends on a significant void fraction toproduce a closed cell, light-weight glass that has insulatingproperties. Glass produced from an SCM of this disclosure may have asignificant closed cell void fraction that could be used as aninsulating glass panel. Some modifications, such as described inApplicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,997,525 issued Apr. 7, 2015, may be neededto control void fraction to a higher fraction (percentage) and toincrease the average size of the voids from the typical 0.1 mm diameterto 1 mm or more.

Exhaust chambers, connectors, and transitions may have a wide variety ofcross-sectional shapes, and the cross-sectional shape may be the same ordifferent along the length (flow direction) of exhaust chambers,connectors, and transitions. The cross-sections may be rectangular(including square), round, oval, triangular, U-shaped (ends areU-shaped, with linear connecting walls), quadrangular (for exampletrapezoidal), hexagonal, octagonal, parabolic, and the like. The exhauststructure may have several different materials of construction. Incertain embodiments it may be all refractory, but these embodiments areheavy and may require strong supporting steel structure. In otherembodiments the exhaust structure may be all metal (for example Inconelfor higher temperatures) but in these embodiments there may be a needfor greater cooling to keep temperatures below the service limits of themetal. Finally, some embodiments may comprise a hybrid design includingboth refractory and metal, as in embodiments 100 and 200 describedherein.

In retrofitting an existing melter, or constructing a new system, ahybrid system may avoid significant steel structural modifications. Inembodiments 100 and 200, Inconel with a refractory liner and air coolingon the backside of the Inconel metal was used to ensure the metal stayedbelow 1500° F. (816° C.), the service temperature limit for thethickness of Inconel used. (As service temperature of the metalincreases, metal thickness increases.) This has worked very well anddoes not take much air cooling of the Inconel. A key is keeping theexhaust gases hot enough so condensation does not occur and that themolten glass and other materials that get thrown up into the exhaustflows back down the interior surface of the barrier back into themelter. For some thicknesses of metal, water cooling gave too muchcooling to accomplish what was desired, but this does not rule outliquids being used as heat transfer fluids.

In embodiment 200, the lower transition piece, which is not viewable inFIG. 4 (corresponding to lower transition connector 134 in embodiment100) between the melter 210 and the exhaust structure (228, 240) was a9-inch (23 cm) high water-cooled section that supported the Inconel andrefractory exhaust structure. The inspirator section (232, 234) wasstainless steel metal and cooled only by the air flow caused by thesuction of the abatement exhaust fan pulling cooling air in to drop theexhaust gases temperature down to about 950° F. (510° C.) for transportto a baghouse where the exhaust is further cooled to ˜200° F. (about 93°C.) so as not to damage the bags in the baghouse. From the inspiratorsection up was all typical exhaust system duct work.

Submerged combustion melters in embodiments described herein, except forthe exhaust structure modifications and possible elimination of a sump,may be any of the currently known submerged combustion melter designs,or may be one of those described in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,769,992issued Jul. 8, 2014, incorporated herein by reference. Submergedcombustion melters useful in the practice of the methods and systems ofthis disclosure may take any number of forms, including those describedin the '992 patent, which describes sidewalls forming an expandingmelting zone formed by a first trapezoidal region, and a narrowingmelting zone formed by a second trapezoidal region, wherein a commonbase between the trapezoids defines the location of the maximum width ofthe melter, as described herein with respect to embodiment 200 of FIG.4.

Submerged combustion melters may be fed a variety of feed materials byone or more roll stands, which in turn supports one or more rolls ofglass mat, as described in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8.650,914 issuedFeb. 14, 2014 incorporated herein by reference. In certain embodimentspowered nip rolls may include cutting knives or other cutting componentsto cut or chop the mat (or roving, in those embodiments processingroving) into smaller length pieces prior to entering the melter. Alsoprovided in certain embodiments is a glass batch feeder. Glass batchfeeders are well-known in this art and require no further explanation.

Certain embodiments may comprise a process control scheme for thesubmerged combustion melter and burners. For example, as explained inthe '914 patent, a master process controller may be configured toprovide any number of control logics, including feedback control,feed-forward control, cascade control, and the like. The disclosure isnot limited to a single master process controller, as any combination ofcontrollers could be used. The term “control”, used as a transitiveverb, means to verify or regulate by comparing with a standard ordesired value. Control may be closed loop, feedback, feed-forward,cascade, model predictive, adaptive, heuristic and combinations thereof.The term “controller” means a device at least capable of accepting inputfrom sensors and meters in real time or near-real time, and sendingcommands directly to burner control elements, and/or to local devicesassociated with burner control elements and feeding devices able toaccept commands. A controller may also be capable of accepting inputfrom human operators; accessing databases, such as relational databases;sending data to and accessing data in databases, data warehouses or datamarts; and sending information to and accepting input from a displaydevice readable by a human. A controller may also interface with or haveintegrated therewith one or more software application modules, and maysupervise interaction between databases and one or more softwareapplication modules. The controller may utilize Model Predictive Control(MPC) or other advanced multivariable control methods used in multipleinput/multiple output (MIMO) systems.

As mentioned previously, the methods of Applicant's patent using thevibrations and oscillations of the melter itself, may prove usefulpredictive control inputs. Measurement of vibration is a well-developedscience in its own right and requires little explanation to the skilledvibration sensor artisan. A good summary is provided by

Furman, B. J., “Vibration Measurement”, San Jose State University,Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, pp. 1-14,22 November2005, incorporated herein by reference. Furman described vibration asinterchange between potential and kinetic energy in bodies with finitestiffness and mass that arises from time dependent energy input, andgives examples, including fluid flow. Without being limited to anyparticular theory, the inventors herein theorize that the oxidant and/orfuel fluid flows through submerged combustion burners, and the flamesand combustion products emanating from those burners, contribute to thevibration and/or oscillation observed in submerged combustion glass tankfurnaces. Basic parameters of vibration study, such as amplitude,amplitude peak level, peak-to-peak amplitude, root-mean-square (RMS)amplitude level, and average (rectified) amplitude, are givenschematically in Furman. See also Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,973,400issued Mar. 10, 2015.

Those having ordinary skill in this art will appreciate that there aremany possible variations of the melter, exhaust structures, forehearths,burners, and heat transfer components described herein, and will be ableto devise alternatives and improvements to those described herein thatare nevertheless considered to be within the claims of the presentpatent.

Burners useful in the melter apparatus described herein include thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,034; 3,170,781; 3,237,929; 3,260,587;3,606,825; 3,627,504; 3,738,792; 3,764,287; and 7,273,583, andApplicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,740. One useful burner, for example, isdescribed in the '583 patent as comprising a method and apparatusproviding heat energy to a bath of molten material and simultaneouslycreating a well-mixed molten material. The burner functions by firing aburning gaseous or liquid fuel-oxidant mixture into a volume of moltenmaterial. The burners described in the '583 patent provide a stableflame at the point of injection of the fuel-oxidant mixture into themelt to prevent the formation of frozen melt downstream as well as toprevent any resultant explosive combustion; constant, reliable, andrapid ignition of the fuel-oxidant mixture such that the mixture burnsquickly inside the molten material and releases the heat of combustioninto the melt; and completion of the combustion process in bubblesrising to the surface of the melt. In one embodiment, the burnersdescribed in the '583 patent comprises an inner fluid supply tube havinga first fluid inlet end and a first fluid outlet end and an outer fluidsupply tube having a second fluid inlet end and a second fluid outletend coaxially disposed around the inner fluid supply tube and forming anannular space between the inner fluid supply tube and the outer fluidsupply tube. A burner nozzle is connected to the first fluid outlet endof the inner fluid supply tube. The outer fluid supply tube is arrangedsuch that the second fluid outlet end extends beyond the first fluidoutlet end, creating, in effect, a combustion space or chamber boundedby the outlet to the burner nozzle and the extended portion of the outerfluid supply tube. The burner nozzle is sized with an outside diametercorresponding to the inside diameter of the outer fluid supply tube andforms a centralized opening in fluid communication with the inner fluidsupply tube and at least one peripheral longitudinally oriented openingin fluid communication with the annular space between the inner andouter fluid supply tubes. In certain embodiments, a longitudinallyadjustable rod is disposed within the inner fluid supply tube having oneend proximate the first fluid outlet end. As the adjustable rod is movedwithin the inner fluid supply tube, the flow characteristics of fluidthrough the inner fluid supply tube are modified. A cylindrical flamestabilizer element is attached to the second fluid outlet end. Thestable flame is achieved by supplying oxidant to the combustion chamberthrough one or more of the openings located on the periphery of theburner nozzle, supplying fuel through the centralized opening of theburner nozzle, and controlling the development of a self-controlled flowdisturbance zone by freezing melt on the top of the cylindrical flamestabilizer element. The location of the injection point for thefuel-oxidant mixture below the surface of the melting material enhancesmixing of the components being melted and increases homogeneity of themelt. Thermal NO emissions are greatly reduced due to the lower flametemperatures resulting from the melt-quenched flame and further due toinsulation of the high temperature flame from the atmosphere.

In certain embodiments the burners may be floor-mounted burners. Incertain embodiments, the burners may be positioned in rows substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis (in the melt flow direction) ofthe melter. In certain embodiments, the burners may be positioned toemit combustion products into molten glass in a melting zone of themelter in a fashion so that the gases penetrate the melt generallyperpendicularly to the floor. In other embodiments, one or more burnersmay emit combustion products into the melt at an angle to the floor, astaught in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,769,992.

Submerged combustion melters useful in systems and methods in accordancewith the present disclosure may also comprise one or more wall-mountedsubmerged combustion burners, and/or one or more roof-mounted burners.Roof-mounted burners may be useful to pre-heat the melting zone of themelter, and may serve as ignition sources for one or more submergedcombustion burners. Melters having only wall-mounted,submerged-combustion burners are also considered within the presentdisclosure. Roof-mounted burners may be oxy-fuel burners, but as theyare only used in certain situations, are more likely to be air/fuelburners. Most often they would be shut-off after pre-heating the melterand/or after starting one or more submerged combustion burners. Incertain embodiments, if there is a possibility of carryover of particlesto the exhaust, one or more roof-mounted burners could be used to form acurtain to prevent particulate carryover. In certain embodiments, allsubmerged combustion burners are oxy/fuel burners (where “oxy” meansoxygen, or oxygen-enriched air, as described earlier), but this is notnecessarily so in all embodiments; some or all of the submergedcombustion burners may be air/fuel burners. Furthermore, heating may besupplemented by electrical heating in certain melter embodiments, incertain melter zones, in forehearths, and so on. In certain embodimentsthe oxy-fuel burners may comprise one or more submerged combustionburners each having co-axial fuel and oxidant tubes forming an annularspace therebetween, wherein the outer tube extends beyond the end of theinner tube, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,273,583, incorporated herein byreference. Burners may be flush-mounted with the melter floor in certainembodiments. In other embodiments, such as disclosed in the '583 patent,a portion of one or more of the burners may extend slightly into themelt above the melter floor.

In certain embodiments, melter side walls may have a free-flowing form,devoid of angles. In certain other embodiments, side walls may beconfigured so that an intermediate location may comprise an intermediateregion of the melter having constant width, extending from a firsttrapezoidal region to the beginning of a narrowing melting region. Otherembodiments of suitable melters are described in the above-mentioned'992 patent.

As mentioned herein, useful melters may include refractory fluid-cooledpanels. Liquid-cooled panels may be used, having one or more conduits ortubing therein, supplied with liquid through one conduit, with anotherconduit discharging warmed liquid, routing heat transferred from insidethe melter to the liquid away from the melter. Liquid-cooled panels mayalso include a thin refractory liner, which minimizes heat losses fromthe melter, but allows formation of a thin frozen glass shell to form onthe surfaces and prevent any refractory wear and associated glasscontamination. Other useful cooled panels include air-cooled panels,comprising a conduit that has a first, small diameter section, and alarge diameter section. Warmed air transverses the conduits such thatthe conduit having the larger diameter accommodates expansion of the airas it is warmed. Air-cooled panels are described more fully in U.S. Pat.No. 6,244,197. In certain embodiments, the refractory fluidcooled-panels are cooled by a heat transfer fluid selected from thegroup consisting of gaseous, liquid, or combinations of gaseous andliquid compositions that functions or is capable of being modified tofunction as a heat transfer fluid. Gaseous heat transfer fluids may beselected from air, including ambient air and treated air (for airtreated to remove moisture), inert inorganic gases, such as nitrogen,argon, and helium, inert organic gases such as fluoro-, chloro- andchlorofluorocarbons, including perfluorinated versions, such astetrafluoromethane, and hexafluoroethane, and tetrafluoroethylene, andthe like, and mixtures of inert gases with small portions of non-inertgases, such as hydrogen. Heat transfer liquids may be selected frominert liquids which may be organic, inorganic, or some combinationthereof, for example, salt solutions, glycol solutions, oils and thelike. Other possible heat transfer fluids include steam (if cooler thanthe melt temperature), carbon dioxide, or mixtures thereof withnitrogen. Heat transfer fluids may be compositions comprising both gasand liquid phases, such as the higher chlorofluorocarbons.

Melters and channels described herein may be constructed using castconcretes such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,718. Two castconcrete layers are described in the '718 patent, the first being ahydraulically setting insulating composition (for example, that knownunder the trade designation CASTABLE BLOC-MIX-G, a product ofFleischmann Company, Frankfurt/Main, Federal Republic of Germany). Thiscomposition may be poured in a form of a wall section of desiredthickness, for example a layer 5 cm thick, or 10 cm, or greater. Thismaterial is allowed to set, followed by a second layer of ahydraulically setting refractory casting composition (such as that knownunder the trade designation RAPID BLOCK RG 158, a product of Fleischmanncompany, Frankfurt/Main, Federal Republic of Germany) may be appliedthereonto.

Other suitable materials for the refractory cooled panels, melter andchannel refractory liners, and refractory block burners (if used) arefused zirconia (ZrO₂), fused cast AZS (alumina-zirconia-silica),rebonded AZS, or fused cast alumina (Al₂O₃). The choice of a particularmaterial is dictated among other parameters by the melter geometry andtype of glass to be produced.

The total quantities of fuel and oxidant used by the combustion systemmay be such that the flow of oxygen may range from about 0.9 to about1.2 of the theoretical stoichiometric flow of oxygen necessary to obtainthe complete combustion of the fuel flow. Another expression of thisstatement is that the combustion ratio may range from about 0.9 to about1.2. In certain embodiments, the equivalent fuel content of the feedmaterial must be taken into account. For example, organic binders inglass fiber mat scrap materials will increase the oxidant requirementabove that required strictly for fuel being combusted. In considerationof these embodiments, the combustion ratio may be increased above 1.2,for example to 1.5, or to 2, or 2.5, or even higher, depending on theorganic content of the feed materials.

The velocity of the fuel gas in the various burners depends on theburner geometry used, but generally is at least about 15 m/s. The upperlimit of fuel velocity depends primarily on the desired mixing of themelt in the melter apparatus, melter geometry, and the geometry of theburner; if the fuel velocity is too low, the flame temperature may betoo low, providing inadequate melting, which is not desired, and if thefuel flow is too high, flame might impinge on the melter floor, roof orwall, and/or heat will be wasted, which is also not desired.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are logic diagrams of two methods in accordance with thepresent disclosure. The method of embodiment 700 of FIG. 7 comprisesmelting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter, themelter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting thefloor and roof, and an exhaust passage through the roof, box 702. Methodembodiment 700 also includes combusting a fuel in one or more submergedcombustion burners mounted in the floor and/or wall structure, thesubmerged combustion burners discharging combustion products under alevel of the glass-forming material being melted in the melter andcreating turbulent conditions in substantially all of the material, box704. Method embodiment 700 also includes exhausting exhaust materialfrom the melter through an exhaust structure fluidly connecting theexhaust passage with an exhaust stack, the exhaust structure comprisinga barrier preventing the exhaust material from contacting theatmosphere, the barrier defining an exhaust chamber having an interiorsurface, the barrier configured to maintain temperature and pressure inthe exhaust structure at values sufficient to substantially prevent theexhaust material from condensing on the interior surface, box 706. Itwill be appreciated that all of the activities delineated in boxes 702,704, and 706 may occur simultaneously.

Another method of this disclosure is presented in the logic diagram ofFIG. 8 as embodiment 800. Embodiment 800 is a submerged combustionmethod of manufacturing glass, and comprises melting glass-formingmaterials in a submerged combustion melter, the melter comprising afloor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, andan exhaust passage through the roof, box 802. Method embodiment 800 alsoincludes combusting a fuel in one or more submerged combustion burnersmounted in the floor and/or wall structure, the submerged combustionburners discharging combustion products under a level of theglass-forming material being melted in the melter and creating turbulentconditions in substantially all of the material, box 804. Methodembodiment 800 further includes exhausting exhaust material from themelter through an exhaust structure fluidly connecting the exhaustpassage with an exhaust stack, box 806, wherein the exhaust passage issubstantially centrally located between a feed end and an exit end ofthe melter, and the exhausting of the exhaust material through theexhaust structure comprises exhausting the exhaust materialsubstantially centrally between the feed end and the exit end of themelter, wherein the exhaust structure comprises: a barrier preventingthe exhaust material from contacting the atmosphere, the barrierdefining an exhaust chamber having an interior surface, the barrierconfigured to maintain temperature and pressure in the exhaust structureat values sufficient to substantially prevent the exhaust material fromcondensing on the interior surface; a liquid-cooled transition structurefluidly connecting the exhaust passage and the exhaust structure; and anair inspirator fluidly connecting the barrier and the exhaust stack. Itwill be appreciated that all of the activities delineated in boxes 802,804, and 806 may occur simultaneously.

The term “control”, used as a transitive verb, means to verify orregulate by comparing with a standard or desired value. Control may beclosed loop, feedback, feed-forward, cascade, model predictive,adaptive, heuristic and combinations thereof.

The term “controller” means a device at least capable of accepting inputfrom sensors and meters in real time or near-real time, and sendingcommands directly to burner control elements, and/or to local devicesassociated with burner control elements able to accept commands. Acontroller may also be capable of accepting input from human operators;accessing databases, such as relational databases; sending data to andaccessing data in databases, data warehouses or data marts; and sendinginformation to and accepting input from a display device readable by ahuman. A controller may also interface with or have integrated therewithone or more software application modules, and may supervise interactionbetween databases and one or more software application modules.

The phrase “PID controller” means a controller using proportional,integral, and derivative features. In some cases the derivative mode maynot be used or its influence reduced significantly so that thecontroller may be deemed a PI controller. It will also be recognized bythose of skill in the control art that there are existing variations ofPI and PID controllers, depending on how the discretization isperformed. These known and foreseeable variations of PI, PID and othercontrollers are considered within the disclosure.

The controller may utilize Model Predictive Control (MPC). MPC is anadvanced multivariable control method for use in multiple input/multipleoutput (MIMO) systems. MPC computes a sequence of manipulated variableadjustments in order to optimise the future behavior of the process inquestion. At each control time k, MPC solves a dynamic optimizationproblem using a model of the controlled system, so as to optimize futurebehavior (at time k+1, k+2 . . . k+n) over a prediction horizon n. Thisis again performed at time k+1, k+2 . . . MPC may use any derivedobjective function, such as Quadratic Performance Objective, and thelike, including weighting functions of manipulated variables andmeasurements. Dynamics of the process and/or system to be controlled aredescribed in an explicit model of the process and/or system, which maybe obtained for example by mathematical modeling, or estimated from testdata of the real process and/or system. Some techniques to determinesome of the dynamics of the system and/or process to be controlledinclude step response models, impulse response models, and other linearor non-linear models. Often an accurate model is not necessary. Inputand output constraints may be included in the problem formulation sothat future constraint violations are anticipated and prevented, such ashard constraints, soft constraints, set point constraints, funnelconstraints, return on capital constraints, and the like. It may bedifficult to explicitly state stability of an MPC control scheme, and incertain embodiments of the present disclosure it may be necessary to usenonlinear MPC. In so-called advanced control of various systems, PIDcontrol may be used on strong mono-variable loops with few ornonproblematic interactions, while one or more networks of MPC might beused, or other multivariable control structures, for stronginterconnected loops. Furthermore, computing time considerations may bea limiting factor. Some embodiments may employ nonlinear MPC.

A feed forward algorithm, if used, will in the most general sense betask specific, meaning that it will be specially designed to the task itis designed to solve. This specific design might be difficult to design,but a lot is gained by using a more general algorithm, such as a firstor second order filter with a given gain and time constants.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have beendescribed in detail above, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of this disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as definedin the following claims. In the claims, no clauses are intended to be inthe means-plus-function format allowed by 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6unless “means for” is explicitly recited together with an associatedfunction. “Means for” clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A submerged combustion glass manufacturing methodcomprising: melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustionmelter, the melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structureconnecting the floor and roof, and an exhaust passage through the roof;combusting a fuel in one or more submerged combustion burners mounted inthe floor and/or wall structure, the submerged combustion burnersdischarging combustion products under a level of the glass-formingmaterial being melted in the melter and creating turbulent conditions insubstantially all of the material; and exhausting exhaust material fromthe melter through an exhaust structure fluidly connecting the exhaustpassage with an exhaust stack, the exhaust structure comprising abarrier preventing the exhaust material from contacting the atmosphere,the barrier defining an exhaust chamber having an interior surface, thebarrier configured to maintain temperature and pressure in the exhauststructure at values sufficient to substantially prevent the exhaustmaterial from condensing on the interior surface.
 2. The method of claim1 wherein the exhaust passage is substantially centrally located betweena feed end and an exit end of the melter, and the exhausting of theexhaust material through the exhaust structure comprises exhausting theexhaust material substantially centrally between the feed end and theexit end of the melter.
 3. The method of claim 1 comprising cooling theexhaust material prior to the exhaust chamber by flowing the exhaustmaterial through a liquid-cooled transition structure fluidly connectingthe exhaust passage and the barrier.
 4. The method of claim 1 comprisinginspiring air into the exhaust material through an air inspiratorfluidly connecting the barrier and the exhaust stack.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 comprising adjusting the air inspirator to allow more or lessair to enter the stack.
 6. A submerged combustion method ofmanufacturing glass comprising: melting glass-forming materials in asubmerged combustion melter, the melter comprising a floor, a roof, anda wall structure connecting the floor and roof, and an exhaust passagethrough the roof; combusting a fuel in one or more submerged combustionburners mounted in the floor and/or wall structure, the submergedcombustion burners discharging combustion products under a level of theglass-forming material being melted in the melter and creating turbulentconditions in substantially all of the material; and exhausting exhaustmaterial from the melter through an exhaust structure fluidly connectingthe exhaust passage with an exhaust stack, wherein the exhaust passageis substantially centrally located between a feed end and an exit end ofthe melter, and the exhausting of the exhaust material through theexhaust structure comprises exhausting the exhaust materialsubstantially centrally between the feed end and the exit end of themelter, wherein the exhaust structure comprises: a barrier preventingthe exhaust material from contacting the atmosphere, the barrierdefining an exhaust chamber having an interior surface, the barrierconfigured to maintain temperature and pressure in the exhaust structureat values sufficient to substantially prevent the exhaust material fromcondensing on the interior surface; a liquid-cooled transition structurefluidly connecting the exhaust passage and the exhaust structure; and anair inspirator fluidly connecting the barrier and the exhaust stack.